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IBC 903.2.9.....?

steveray

steveray

SAWHORSE
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
14,063
Location
West of the river CT
Reading this section and thinking it is going to ruin the self storage industry. (or make people throw stuff away)...Would you all apply this to a self storage facility as I believe the majority of what is stored there is furniture? Not that big of a deal for a one story, but a 2 story would get really tough unless the industry has already addressed this. I just dealt with one that was 2003 based and it was a nightmare to get them to understand fire ratings (barriers) and eventually they sprinklered to get a 2 story...What are you seeing out there?

[F] 903.2.9 Group S-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall
be provided throughout all buildings containing a Group S-1
occupancy where one of the following conditions exists:
1. A Group S-1 fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet
(1115 m2).
2. A Group S-1 fire area is located more than three stories
above grade plane.
3. The combined area of all Group S-1 fire areas on all
floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000
square feet (2230 m2).
4. A Group S-1 fire area used for the storage of commercial
trucks or buses where the fire area exceeds 5,000
square feet (464 m2).
5. A Group S-1 occupancy used for the storage of upholstered
furniture or mattresses exceeds 2,500 square feet
(232 m2).
 
It will be interesting to see some opinions on this.

I had not really thought about it. I think you would have trouble making it stick, based on the assumption that there always will be furniture stored. (we know there will, but predicting it ahead of time?)

Just my initial thought.
 
No not to self storage

It was meant for stores from I think the Tennessee fire.

It has changed since origanlly put in the code.


Plus for self storage, there would have to be the entire 2500 full of furniture

Not just say 500 sq ft
 
Not according to the commentary, it implies that one 10 X 20 space with a single mattress in a 2501 sq ft S-1 self storage facility would require sprinklers!
It is based on the size of the occupancy not the fire area or the amount of mattresses/furniture.
I totally disagree with the commentary and the intent of this section.
These self storage units are not designed for human occupancy like other S-1 occupancies so IMHO let them burn
 
Codes gone bad



So owner says upholstered furniture and mattresses are not allowed.

Besides under the moon beam law, they do not burn!!!
 
Last edited:
I sent it out to my State level guys and we will see what they say for guidance...I am in the same camp as you MT as I do not think it is the intent, but it says what it says....
 
But owner could not allow furniture and mattresses,,,

But allow the spaces to be filled with plastic and tires???

go figure
 
Unlike a junkyard open to the air, storage units are enclosed and stacked to the ceiling with everything and more.
You can disclaim all you want but if it burns without sprinklers your insurance carrier may decline coverage.
Also users often tap into light fixtures for power, leading to shorts.
 
The ones we have are single story and not designed for human occupancy. No electric, heat, water or plumbing connected to the buildings.
Why call out just mattresses and upholstered furniture @ 2,500 sq ft?
I do not ask for a commodities list on a mini storage unit
 
mtlogcabin said:
The ones we have are single story and not designed for human occupancy. No electric, heat, water or plumbing connected to the buildings.
Why call out just mattresses and upholstered furniture @ 2,500 sq ft?
I do not ask for a commodities list on a mini storage unit
Click to expand...


And how could they furnish one??

Items to be stored::


1. Anything
 
Sprinkler Protection of Mattresses or Upholstered Furniture Manufacturing, Sales and
Storage Occupancies

Recently, the Code Assistance Unit has been receiving calls about reviewing plans for self-storage units that may be storing mattresses or upholstered furniture. Yes, we’re talking about those metal structures where you can store your stuff. In some proposed buildings, designers are planning to install fire walls every 2,500 square feet so they do not have to install fire sprinkler systems. The 2015 International Building Code (IBC) does have thresholds for fire sprinklers in occupancies that have mattresses or upholstered furniture. Specifically, Group F-1 and Group S-1 have 2,500 square foot occupancy thresholds while Group M has a 5,000 square foot occupancy threshold.

The International Codes Council issued “IFC Interpretation 20-14” for the 2012 edition of the International Fire Code (IFC) referencing Section 903.2.9 of the IBC. This interpretation basically explains that, regardless of how much upholstered furniture and/or mattresses is actually stored, if one mattress is there, the entire occupancy needs to be sprinklered when the occupancy is over 2,500 square feet.

The Department respectfully disagrees with the IFC Interpretation 20-14 determination. Since the adoption of the 2015 IBC, we have been informing designers that the upholstered furniture and/or mattresses actually stored needed to be over 2,500 square feet. The IFC Committee’s reason statement supports this by stating, “The proposal was modified to provide a reasonable threshold that would not penalize occupancies with very small amounts of such materials.”

The 2015 IBC should be enforced as follows: When more than 2,500 square feet of mattresses or upholstered furniture are stored or used for manufacturing, the entire occupancy needs to be sprinklered. When a mercantile use displays more than 5,000 square feet of mattresses or upholstered furniture, the entire occupancy needs to be sprinklered.

Source: Michael E. Whalen
Code Assistance Unit

Source: Construction Code Communicator
 
cda said:
So owner says upholstered furniture and mattresses are not allowed.
Click to expand...
Washington State Building Code Council
Improving the built environment by promoting health, safety and welfare
1500 Jefferson Street SE • P.O. Box 41449 • Olympia, Washington 98504
(360) 407-9280 • fax (360) 586-5366 • e-mail sbcc@ga.wa.gov • www.ga.wa.gov/sbcc

STATE BUILDING CODE INTERPRETATION NO. 15-03 CODE:

QUESTION:
At a 2012 IBC update class, the instructor stated, paraphrasing, “Due to mini storages being subject to the storing of upholstered furniture and mattresses, 903.2.9 (5) is applicable”. While not every unit will be used to store upholstered furniture or mattresses, the plan check dilemma is determining which units will store what.

Is IFC/IBC 903.2.9 (5) always applicable to S-1 mini storages built under the current code?

ANSWER:
The answer depends on what is allowed to be stored in the mini storage units. The answer is No if the building does not allow storage of upholstered furniture or mattresses per IFC 903.2.9(5). If the storage of upholstered furniture or mattresses is allowed, then the answer is Yes as IFC 903.2.9 applies
 
Francis Vineyard said:
Sprinkler Protection of Mattresses or Upholstered Furniture Manufacturing, Sales and
Storage Occupancies

Recently, the Code Assistance Unit has been receiving calls about reviewing plans for self-storage units that may be storing mattresses or upholstered furniture. Yes, we’re talking about those metal structures where you can store your stuff. In some proposed buildings, designers are planning to install fire walls every 2,500 square feet so they do not have to install fire sprinkler systems. The 2015 International Building Code (IBC) does have thresholds for fire sprinklers in occupancies that have mattresses or upholstered furniture. Specifically, Group F-1 and Group S-1 have 2,500 square foot occupancy thresholds while Group M has a 5,000 square foot occupancy threshold.

The International Codes Council issued “IFC Interpretation 20-14” for the 2012 edition of the International Fire Code (IFC) referencing Section 903.2.9 of the IBC. This interpretation basically explains that, regardless of how much upholstered furniture and/or mattresses is actually stored, if one mattress is there, the entire occupancy needs to be sprinklered when the occupancy is over 2,500 square feet.

The Department respectfully disagrees with the IFC Interpretation 20-14 determination. Since the adoption of the 2015 IBC, we have been informing designers that the upholstered furniture and/or mattresses actually stored needed to be over 2,500 square feet. The IFC Committee’s reason statement supports this by stating, “The proposal was modified to provide a reasonable threshold that would not penalize occupancies with very small amounts of such materials.”

The 2015 IBC should be enforced as follows: When more than 2,500 square feet of mattresses or upholstered furniture are stored or used for manufacturing, the entire occupancy needs to be sprinklered. When a mercantile use displays more than 5,000 square feet of mattresses or upholstered furniture, the entire occupancy needs to be sprinklered.

Source: Michael E. Whalen
Code Assistance Unit

Source: Construction Code Communicator
Click to expand...

Do you count the mattresses standing up or laying down? What if they are stacked?

If they want to leave something so big and vague up to the local, why hang any number on it? And why have an "international" code....?
Francis Vineyard said:
2012 Significant Changes
View attachment 2721
Click to expand...

You get some good stuff FV, do you find it all on ICC's site? I never found much info there since "we" left...
 
So how do you measure the square feet of upholstered furniture and mattresses? If the upholstered furniture or mattresses were spread across the building you would need to measure each one till you come up with 2,500 sq. ft.? I can't imagine an inspector going around measuring all the upholstered furniture. I guess if a mattress is standing up it would be less sq. ft. than if it was laying down. Not sure if a metal chair with just a seat cushion would be considered upholstered.
What if the storage place changed the rules and allowed furniture the day after your inspection?

I had a real hard time with a small M occupancy that want to sell antiques and secondhand stuff. How do others handle it?
 
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